Newburgh sledding ban to remain in place through this winter

NEWBURGH, Ind. — The Newburgh Old Lock and Dam Park remains off-limits for sledders, the Newburgh Town Council said.

The Council decided this month to keep the sledding ban in place for the remainder of the sledding season.

District III Councilwoman Stacie Krieger said they are working to make sledding safer at Indian Hill Overlook Park, but weren't able to do it for this year. She said over the years the shape of that sledding hill has changed, making it less safe.

Town Attorney Christopher Wischer said the sledding ban will help keep everyone safe.

Council established the ban last year after a teen was killed sledding at the Old Lock and Dam.

Davis Collier, 16, was killed when she slid into oncoming traffic and was struck by a vehicle. She was pronounced dead on the scene. Collier was a junior at Castle High School in Newburgh.

The 20-year-old driver of the car, Galina Witte, was arrested on two preliminary charges of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated endangering others.

In January 2017, Witte was also arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person and pled guilty to a charge, a Class A misdemeanor.

Witte has a change of plea and sentencing hearing scheduled for Jan. 28, the Warrick County Prosecutor's Office said.

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London Phelps, 2, claps snow off of her gloves during a walk to the Henderson County Public Library with her sisters, Emmy, 4, and Harper, 2-months-old, and mother, Whitney Phelps, in downtown Henderson, Ky., Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018. "We thought we would go to the library to see if we could check out the movie 'Frozen' and watch it at home with some popcorn during our snow day," Whitney said.
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Charles Clippard of Evansville heads home for lunch after his shift ended Thursday afternoon. The mixture of sleet and freezing rain ended earlier in the day, but snow began to take its place. Most schools were delayed two hours while some were cancelled for the day. DENNY SIMMONS / COURIER & PRESS

Emmy Phelps, 4, attempts to make a snow angel in downtown Henderson, Ky., Thursday morning, Nov. 15, 2018. The task proved to be a little tricky due to a layer of ice mixed in with the snowfall.
SAM OWENS/ THE GLEANER

A female cardinal takes a break on a snow-covered branch at the Indian Hill Overlook Park in Newburgh Thursday morning. A mixture of sleet and freezing rain ended earlier in the day, but snow began to take its place. Most schools were delayed two hours while some were cancelled for the day. DENNY SIMMONS / COURIER & PRESS

A northern flicker speeds away from its feeding spot at the Indian Hill Overlook Park in Newburgh Thursday morning. A mixture of sleet and freezing rain ended earlier in the day, but snow began to take its place. Most schools were delayed two hours while some were cancelled for the day. DENNY SIMMONS / COURIER & PRESS

A pair of northern flickers investigate the opening in a hollow tree at the Indian Hill Overlook Park in Newburgh Thursday morning. A mixture of sleet and freezing rain ended earlier in the day, but snow began to take its place. Most schools were delayed two hours while some were cancelled for the day. DENNY SIMMONS / COURIER & PRESS

London Phelps, 2, shows off the icy snow ball stuck to her gloves during a walk to the Henderson County Public Library with her sisters, Emmy, 4, and Harper, 2-months-old, and mother, Whitney Phelps, in downtown Henderson, Ky., Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018. "We thought we would go to the library to see if we could check out the movie 'Frozen' and watch it at home with some popcorn during our snow day," Whitney said. SAM OWENS/ THE GLEANER

Icicles form on a four-way stop sign at the intersection of First Street and Chandler Avenue in downtown Evansville, Ind., Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. A Winter Weather advisory was issued for the Evansville area through 6 p.m. Thursday. SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS